You can take well-planned escorted itineraries which are offered in many countries from Ireland to Iceland.

You can select a cruise with sailings along the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic, through the beautiful Aegean Sea and the islands of Greece, along the Romantic Rhine, meander along the Danube, sail through the Waterways of Russia between Moscow and St. Petersburg, marvel at the Nordic cities of the Baltics, take a river cruise in the UK, France and Ireland and cruise the beautiful Mediterranean.

Or perhaps a luxury train journey is appealing such as on the historic Orient Express from Venice to Istanbul or the iconic Royal Scotsman. Or you might prefer something really different like the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Moscow to Asia.  

Best places to visit on a Europe Trip 

Western Europe countries to visit

United Kingdom 

A UK vacation may well start in one of the world’s greatest cities, London but also consider other major destinations such as Royal Edinburgh or Georgian Glasgow. The variety of different regions in the UK can be overwhelming – the Lake District, Devon and Cornwall, the Highlands of Scotland, Oxford and Cambridge, Stratford upon Avon, and the Cathedral cities of Canterbury and York are all special yet different.

Ireland

Across the sea, Ireland, with its green countryside offers very friendly people, romantic castles, awe-inspiring scenery such as the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Mohair and the Dingle, authentic music and traditional pubs and distilleries. A visit to the fair city of Dublin is a must.

France

France with its Gallic flair offers a long list of reasons to travel there. You can start in the “City of Lights”, Paris with its wonderful art galleries and museums. Then, your visit can extend to one or more of the many wine regions such as Burgundy or Bordeaux, the Loire Valley with its magnificent chateaux, the Normandy Battlefields, and the French Alps for skiing and the attractive beaches on the French Riviera. That just scratches the surface. And let’s not forget the mouthwatering cuisine and the chic fashion.

Italy

Italy is a destination that has just about everything. This includes romantic and historical cities with an abundance of cultural attractions such as Rome with the Vatican, Florence, the art centre of the world and Venice with its canals and bridges.

Then there is Tuscany and Umbria with their medieval hill towns such as Siena, Assisi and San Gimignano and their outstanding wines. The Dolomites offer excellent skiing. The scenery is breathtaking along the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre.  Milan has its superb Cathedral and fashion and design; Pisa, its leaning tower and Bologna, its cuisine.   

Germany 

Germany is a country rich in festivals. The Christmas markets are second to none. It has one of the world’s most outstanding capitals, cosmopolitan Berlin, famous for its museums, musical events and culture generally. Nothing beats a river cruise down the romantic Rhine with its beautiful scenery, vineyards and castles. And who would not want to be in Munich during Oktoberfest? A tour along the Romantic Road will reveal attractive old towns as well as scenery. For a glimpse of the past, visit Dresden with its outstanding baroque architecture and see how it has been totally rebuilt to its former self. And for both scenery and skiing, head to the Bavarian Alps.

Switzerland 

When it comes to Alpine scenery at its foremost, then Switzerland (and Austria) lead the way. It is a skiers’ paradise with resorts such as St. Moritz, Davos and Zermatt. In the summer, Switzerland reveals another side of itself in its gorgeous lake destinations, Interlaken, Lucerne and Lausanne. And then there are the bears in Bern. Don’t overlook Zurich with its culturally-rich attractions.

Austria

Vienna in Austria offers an old-world charm and possibly the best coffee and pastries anywhere. Highlights here include the elegant Belvedere and Schonbrunn Palaces, the renowned State Opera House and the famous Spanish Riding School. Austria also has some of the best ski resorts anywhere such as St. Anton and Kitzbuhel. Spend time in charming Innsbruck and Salzburg with its striking castle.

Netherlands 

The Netherlands may be known as flat and the home of windmills certainly, but once you arrive in Amsterdam, you will be mesmerized by its many marvellous canals and colourful canal houses. You can also take in the Anne Frank House, outstanding art galleries such as the Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum and the city’s numerous colourful neighbourhoods. The Hague is not only the centre for the International Court of Justice but boasts an exceptional art gallery, the Mauritshuis. Rotterdam is an attractive, modern city perfectly rebuilt after being the victim of a large amount of destruction. Other quaint, old cities include Utrecht and Haarlem.

Belgium 

One of the most attractive squares in Europe is in Brussels, Belgium, the delightful Grande Place. The city is also a centre for incredible Art Nouveau architecture, gourmet cuisine and exceptional art galleries and museums. Bruges has to be a contender to Venice with its attractive canals and waterways. Ghent is the place to purchase lace but also has some of the most interesting buildings in the country. Antwerp may be famous for its diamond industry but is also a city of outstanding architecture. Then there are, of course, the chocolate, beer and fries for which Belgium is famous.  

Spain 

Spain is the home of the bullfight and the flamenco certainly – a good start for a country with much flair and colour. Its capital, Madrid, with its beautiful wide boulevards and grand squares such as the Plaza Mayor, has some outstanding art galleries such as the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. It is also an excellent centre for visiting nearby, colourful and fascinating cities such as Toledo, Avila, Segovia and Aranjuez.  Barcelona is a delightful city emphasized in places such as the walking boulevard, Las Ramblas, the medieval Gothic Quarter, the unusual but exciting architecture of Antoni Gaudi including the amazing and unique church, the Sagrada Familia and the whimsical Parc Guell. Not far away is the Costa Brava with its many lovely beach resorts such as Sitges, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar.  Andalusia has three gems, Granada, Seville and Cordoba, each with its Moorish influences and just south of here is Malaga with its Picasso Museum and the excellent Costa del Sol resorts of Torremolinos and Marbella. Offshore is another major beach area, the Canary Islands which includes Tenerife and Las Palmas.

Portugal

Portugal offers the second oldest capital in Europe after Athens. In Lisbon, you can visit quaint and colourful neighbourhoods such as Bairro Alto and Alfama or you can head out of the city to the beach resort Cascais or Sintra with its castles and palaces. Oporto, apart from being the centre of the port industry, is an interesting old city. The Algarve is a good place to escape winter with its attractive beach resorts such as Lagos and Portimao. Offshore is the garden-like island of Madeira.  

Greece

Greece is the home of the oldest civilization in Europe. Athens is well-known for its antiquities including the Acropolis, the Agora and the Panathenian Stadium, the birthplace of both the ancient and modern Olympics. You can enjoy eating and wandering around the oldest district in the city, the Plaka district and spend time in the old port of Piraeus. Greece has also been blessed with a collection of beautiful islands which can be visited on a cruise or experienced by staying on one or more, such as Mykonos, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes or Corfu, all easily reached from Athens.

Eastern Europe countries to visit 

Hungary

In Hungary, Budapest is a charming and sophisticated city where the Danube River flows right through the centre. It divides Buda with its historical venues such as Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica and Fisherman’s Bastion and Pest, and the more modern side with its wide boulevards and great shopping and dining opportunities. Budapest is also an excellent place to experience a thermal bath in one of its many spas.

Czech Republic 

One of Europe’s most visited capitals has to be Prague in the Czech Republic and rightly so with its medieval castles, churches, architecture and quaint cobblestone streets. Also, don’t miss out on a visit to Cesky Krumlov with its outstanding baroque buildings and spectacular castle.

Croatia 

Upcoming, soon to be one of Europe’s major destinations, is Croatia, a country blessed with wonderful scenery and a scenic coastline offering outstanding beach resorts such as Dubrovnik, Split and the islands of Hvar, Mljet and Korcula. But that’s not all there is. Croatia has a long history dating back to Roman times which is in evidence almost everywhere. For something different, visit the scenic national park of Plitvice with its beautiful lakes.

Turkey 

It is said that Turkey is at the crossroads of the world. Certainly, Istanbul straddles both Europe and Asia. This extraordinary and special city offers a wealth of reasons to visit. These include the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia and the Grand Bazaar to name a few highlights. Plus a cruise on the Bosphorus is a delight. Ancient Roman sites abound such as Ephesus and Pergamon and for natural phenomena, head to the unusual rock formations in Cappadocia. You can also enjoy a beach stay on the Mediterranean coast in Antalya or Kusadasi.

Romania 

Bucharest, in Romania, has come a long way from its more austere days. You can enjoy the historic Calea Victoriei area with its old and most charming cobblestone streets, the historic Revolution Square and the Lipiscani District, a jumble of streets, now home to art galleries, and antique shops, and coffee houses. Romania has many medieval attractions and these can be best viewed in towns such as Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu. For intrigue, there is Bran Castle of Dracula fame and for scenery, check out the Carpathian Mountains.

Then there is Scandinavia. Norway is blessed with a wealth of natural beauty. This includes the dramatic and awe-inspiring fjords. The cities of Oslo and Bergen will delight you with their Nordic allure. The capital of Sweden, Stockholm is a city with immense charm. You can walk the narrow streets of Gamla Stan, the old town, enjoy cultural pursuits such as the amazing Vasa Museum and, for fun, the ABBA Museum plus take a cruise around the interesting islands that make up the city. Copenhagen, in Denmark, offers several royal palaces, including the Little Mermaid and the entertainment centre, Tivoli Gardens. Finland is a land of lakes and reindeer certainly. But Helsinki has some outstanding architecture, an attractive harbour and excellent shopping.    

Russia 

Russia’s two major cities offer the visitor an amazing amount of history, culture and architecture. Moscow with its Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral will enthrall you. As for culture, visit the Pushkin Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery. A ride on the Moscow Metro is like riding through a museum with art decorating most station platforms. Excellent ballet and opera performances are regularly available at the Bolshoi Theatre and other venues. St. Petersburg is known for its ornate bridges and scenic canals certainly. But don’t miss a visit to one of the world’s largest and most famous art galleries, the Hermitage. Other beautiful buildings include the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Baltic Countries 

Goway also offers several other destinations in Europe. These include the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, plus Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Belarus in Eastern Europe. Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and Luxembourg are also featured.

Northern Europe countries to visit 

Iceland 

Looking for awe-inspiring and stunning scenery? Then Iceland is the destination for you. There are glaciers, hot springs, geysers, active volcanoes and ice and lava fields to marvel at. And you wouldn’t want to go there without endeavouring to catch a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights. You can also consider a dip in the world’s largest outdoor geothermal pool, the Blue Lagoon. The capital Reykjavik, although not large, is charming and friendly, full of different styled and colourful houses and with good facilities for shopping, dining and drinking. Don’t miss out on a visit to the very unusual Hallgrimskirkja Church. Elsewhere, there are also three impressive national parks, Vatnajokull National Park, Snaefellsjokull National Park and Thingvellir National Park in Iceland.

Norway

Norway has some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. The Norwegian fjords are legendary. Surrounded by mountains and towering cliffs with powerful waterfalls cascading down the sides, their natural beauty is breathtaking. The best-known are the Hardangerfjord, Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord. Oslo is a cosmopolitan city with a Nordic flavour. It has many attractions and offers several pleasant parks, a scenic harbour and diverse architecture. Bergen, a popular gateway for the fjords, has some well-preserved Hanseatic buildings. A cruise along the North West coast can include Trondheim known for its magnificent sunsets in the summer plus Tromso and Kirkenes, both ideal for watching the amazing Northern Lights.  

Sweden 

Sweden has a very attractive capital, Stockholm which is spread over 14 individual islands. Walk around the quaint Old Town (Gamla Stan) dating back to the 13th Century with its cobblestone streets. Check out the Royal Palace and the very interesting museums such as the Nobel Museum, the Abba Museum and the Vasa Museum with its preserved 17th Century sailing ship. Nearby Stockholm is the mediaeval Uppsala, a prosperous university city and Sigtuna, the oldest town in the country with its narrow streets and wooden houses. Southern Sweden is home to two major cities, Gothenburg and Malmo. The former is known for its annual cultural festival and the latter for its proximity and accessibility to Denmark or precisely, Copenhagen.

Finland 

In Finland, start with Helsinki the city by the sea with its beautiful harbour where a lively fruit and vegetable market takes place every morning. Esplanadi is the heart of the city, a wide boulevard with many cafes and a lovely park. See the amazing and contemporary Temppeliaukio Church built into a rock and the Sibelius Monument, a fascinating homage to Finland’s famous composer, Jean Sibelius. Suomenlinna, a nearby island, contains several museums and was a large former fortress built to keep out invaders. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum is filled with authentic old Finnish houses. Outside Helsinki is Porvoo, Finland’s second-oldest town with much history and with many wooden houses, gardens, boutiques and cobbled streets. In the north of Finland close to the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, the home of the Northern Lights, Santa Claus and Ice Hotels. In Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, you can visit Santa and his reindeer every day of the year at Santa Claus Village. 

Why Goway Travel for Europe?

We have the expertise to customize individual travel arrangements for any country in Europe. Whether your interest is history, culture, cuisine, architecture, the countryside, the beaches or the desire to find out what makes these places over the centuries so inviting, do consider Europe for your next vacation.